I wonder about a 3-way trade with Milwaukee & Utah, for Millsap? Would the Jazz have any interest in Ilyasova, assuming Milwaukee likes Bargnani?

This is a good idea. The problem may be that if this was possible Milwaukee could try to deal directly with Utah 'cause they'd rather have Millsap than Bargnani. I don't thaink Milwaukee or any team like Bargnani. If there's validity to the rumour, I think they(Milwaukee) consider his contract a better one to have than Ilyasova's.

again i don't get all the millsap love. if he was under contract for 3 more years or even 2 i would do it in a second. but we trade bargs away for him, only have a tiny window to resign him with exclusively(i think) for a player that is gone in 2 months because we can't pay him.

again i don't get all the millsap love. if he was under contract for 3 more years or even 2 i would do it in a second. but we trade bargs away for him, only have a tiny window to resign him with exclusively(i think) for a player that is gone in 2 months because we can't pay him.

Raps would own his Bird Rights and could pay him if they traded for him.

You've turned my head around Torch. Excellent, excellent post. Great explanation, great usage of stats. I've always wanted Milsap because he is the inside scoring presence this team lacks, but that is likely something JV addresses in the future, for he is a solid low post player already.

Ilyasova is now a sure fire guy for me, but like you mentioned in the beginning, why would Milwaukee do such a trade?

For just Bargs? Who knows? Drug habit?

In seriousness, it comes back to taking bad contracts. What if Toronto took on Gooden? Or Udoh?

ďThe saving of our world from pending doom will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority.Ē - Martin Luther King

Dalembert actually has a good contract. He's an expiring contract that I'm sure any team would want to take to get some cap space back in the off season. The point I think Matt was trying to say was that if Ilyasova was better than Bargnani what would entice Milwaukee in doing that trade? If we took back a bad contract like Gooden or Udrih then that might convince them.

Dalembert actually has a good contract. He's an expiring contract that I'm sure any team would want to take to get some cap space back in the off season. The point I think Matt was trying to say was that if Ilyasova was better than Bargnani what would entice Milwaukee in doing that trade? If we took back a bad contract like Gooden or Udrih then that might convince them.

Yes. That was the point.

Udrih is also expiring. I think you mean Udoh.... which is a very easy mistake!

Bryan Colangelo has been rumoured to be fond of Ilyasova for a while – who could blame him? – and the Raptors were linked to the Turkish forward in free agency rumours in the summer, but I find it very hard to believe the Bucks would give up on Ersan to take on Bargnani’s bloated contract.

Sure, Ilyasova is actually on the books for another four years after this one for a total of just over $32 million while Bargnani is only on the books for another two years and roughly $22 million, but when you consider that Ilyasova will make $2.6 million less than Andrea in 2013-14 and $3.6 million less in 2014-15, you quickly realize that he’s in the early stages of a bargain contract in the NBA.

Despite his early season struggles in his first season post-extension, Ilyasova has recently bounced back to being the player many fans and stats nerds alike became enamored with over the last few years, averaging over 18 points and eight rebounds per game over his last 11 games. In addition, his per-36-minute averages remain impressive this season (15.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals) while the 6-9 forward continues to shoot the lights out from three-point range. After shooting the three-ball at a below average rate of 33.5 per cent over his first three NBA seasons, Ilyasova is shooting an insane 44.8 per cent from deep over the last two seasons, including 44.2 per cent this season.

Basically, when you look at the fact that Ilyasova is a floor-stretching forward who rebounds well and has the versatility to play the three and the four, you come to the realization that he’s everything Raptors fans wish Bargnani was, just at a much cheaper per-year cost (the advanced numbers also clearly favour the cheaper and younger Ilyasova).

The one concern with adding Ilyasova to an offence that already features Rudy Gay and DeMar DeRozan is that the team would still lack a true post presence, as nearly 57 per cent of Ersan’s 9.5 field goal attempts per game this season come from 16 feet out or more, but that also has to do with Milwaukee using him at small forward rather than power forward more than they have in the past. In addition, his legitimate long range threat compared to Bargnani’s perceived threat (Bargnani’s only shot above 35 per cent from deep three times in seven NBA seasons and hasn’t done so in three years) would really open up some slashing lanes for perimeter players like Gay, DeRozan and even Kyle Lowry, and the hope would be that Amir Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas continue to evolve as effective post options.

Add it all up and a Bargnani for Ilyasova swap really does seem like the type of move that would be too good to be true for Raptors fans and ridiculous to accept for the Bucks. I don’t doubt Kyler’s report, because I imagine more than a couple of teams would be interested in Ilyasova’s services for the next handful of years, but I do doubt that Milwaukee would seriously entertain an offer built around Toronto’s “enigma of all enigmas.”

In the eyes of some, Bargnani has more lives than a cat. Why should we give Bargnani any more time in order to reassess him? We know EXACTLY what he is and isn't. If the right deal comes along in the next 9 days, Colangelo has to pull the trigger.

On a flight to the states a few years back some fat, obnoxious slob wouldn't stop harrassing one of the stewardesses. Earlier she had accidentally spilt a beverage on his shoe and even though she offered to clean up what she could and after countless appologies the dude still wouldn't let up. "lousy flight!, get me this get me that, pathetic service!" blah blah blah until finally a few of the other passengers had to 'speak' with him. Now obviously this man felt short-changed with his overall flight experience..after all, he did PAY for his ticket. He wasn't pleased with one of the employees as well so ofcourse he had to put his foot down and let it be known. Someone has to stand up and show these servers what time it was...and dammit it was gonna be him. Why? well if anything because he has the dignity to stand up for his beliefs...bad form and just that. Bad form. Someone shoulda smacked some sense into him in retrospect.

Ok terrible example but one of experiences that comes to mind.

Booing your own damn team does not serve you. It not only affects the player your booing but his teammates, staff and everyone out there who are busting their buts trying to make this work. Some say booing is usefull because it can run the guy right outta town, but really thats BS too. What are you? a freakin lynch mob? you don't like a guy so you're gonna cause a ruckus, boo him and run him outta town? yeah real dignified! Ill never understand these people who feel that booing, showing your hate and spreading negativity is actually helping...I don't get it. The only thing I can think of is ...well it makes you feel good. It makes you feel dignified but forget how it effects everyone else.

**Slow clap**

(Note that I did remove the part about slapping people. No clap for that part. I don't condone violence.)

"That was Nasty right? Cocked that Joint back and banged on 'em." -James Johnson

I think we're all being a tad sensitive. Fans have booed teams, players, coaches (in any sport) since the beginning of time. Nothing new here. Whether Bargnani, as a person, genuinely deserved it or not is completely irrelevant. The ACC will reign down boos at some point in the future too....it's an inevitability.

IMO, I'm just glad the fan base is passionate enough to react one way or the other. I'd be much more disappointed if the crowd showed complete disinterest...like they do in Philips Arena.

In the eyes of some, Bargnani has more lives than a cat. Why should we give Bargnani any more time in order to reassess him? We know EXACTLY what he is and isn't. If the right deal comes along in the next 9 days, Colangelo has to pull the trigger.